No. 15/14 St. John’s Welcomes Providence to Madison Square Garden on Saturday
Red Storm is off to best BIG EAST start since 1984-85 and have won 13 of its last 14 games
· Web Release
· Watch (CBS Sports Network)
· Listen
· Live Stats
· Buy Tickets
· Game Notes (PDF)
QUEENS, N.Y. (Jan. 31, 2025) – Following a perfect record in January for the first time in 40, the No. 15/14 St. John’s men’s basketball team (18-3, 9-1 BIG EAST) will look to ride its momentum into the next month when it hosts Providence (11-10, 5-5 BIG EAST) for “Retro Day” at Madison Square Garden at 12 p.m.
The Johnnies- winners of 13 of their last 14 are currently riding a seven-game win streak and continue to reach heights unseen in Queens in decades. In the second year under Hall of Fame Head Coach Rick Pitino, the Red Storm are currently ranked top-15 in the country, sit tied for first in the conference standings after its best BIG EAST start in 40 years and hold its best record through 21 games since the 1985-86 season.
Saturday’s contest will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network with Andrew Catalon and Steve Lappas on the call with Ashley Ross as the sideline reporter from the World’s Most Famous Arena. Live stats will be available on RedStormSports.com.
St. John’s will host “Retro Day” on Saturday as the team will sport a throwback uniform set that complements the custom court design of the original visual identity of the Red Storm in the mid 1990’s. The jerseys feature the classic red and yellow St. John’s wordmark across the front. To purchase tickets click here, visit RedStormTix.com or call the box office at 1-888-GO-STORM.
An audio broadcast of the game on the LEARFIELD Red Storm Sports Network with John Minko and Brandon Tierney will also be available on a variety of platforms including the Varsity Network App, TuneIn Radio, RedStormSports.com and the St. John's Red Storm mobile app. The radio broadcast can also be heard on SiriusXM radio channel 138 and via the SiriusXM App.
St. John’s locked down Georgetown on Tuesday night, 66-41, which marked the lowest scoring total ever by a Red Storm BIG EAST opponent and the lowest by any team since Nov. 26, 2010, when it limited Drake to 39. The Red Storm raced out to a 23-3 lead and were ahead by as many as 30 in in the opening half. The dominant win at Capital One Arena marked the program’s ninth straight over its longtime league rival
The Hoyas were held to 24.6 percent (14-57) shooting in Washington D.C., the lowest shooting percentage by a St. John’s opponent in 12 years. The Red Storm defense has been relentless, ranking fourth in the country in defensive efficiency allowing just 88.8 points per game per 100 possessions according to KenPomeroy.com. The Johnnies are among the cream of the crop nationally in many defensive statistics including- blocks (3rd at 6.1) rebounds (8th at 41.6), steals (15th at 9.7), turnovers forced (16th at 15.8) and scoring defense (33rd at 65.1). During BIG EAST play, the Johnnies have held opponents to just 66.1 points per game and held the opposition to 37.5 percent shooting, both marks rank atop the league.
Home has been where the wins are for the Red Storm this season, boasting a 13-0 record on homecourt, which ranks the eighth longest win streak in NCAA Division I. The Johnnies are one of the three teams in the country to carry 13 home wins or more without a loss joining Missouri (15) and San Francisco (13). In 13 contests played in New York City the Johnnies have won by double-figures 11 times and outscored opponents by 17.2 points per game.
St. John’s got through the month of January with an unscathed record of 7-0 for the first time since 1984-85. It marked just the seventh time since World War II the program has gone unbeaten in the first month of the year. The Johnnies seven consecutive conference victories mark their most in a single-season since the 2010-11 season.
RJ Luis Jr. continues to lead the Johnnies offensively, ranking fourth in the conference averaging 17.4 points per game. The Miami native has reached double-digits in 24 of his last 26 games, dating back to last season.
Kadary Richmond has continued to take a larger role over the last month, averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals in 35 minutes of action per game over the squad’s seven-game winning streak.
Big man Zuby Ejiofor holds the nation’s longest active streak at 18 games with seven rebounds or more. The forward ranks third in the league logging 8.2 boards per game and ranks second nationally with 4.3 offensive rebounds per contest.
St. John’s and Providence will meet for the second time this season and the Red Storm will seek its first season sweep of its conference foe since the 2020-21 campaign. In the earlier matchup at Amica Mutual Pavilion on Dec. 20, 2024, the Johnnies trailed by as many as 16, including a 13-point halftime deficit. The squad stormed back in the latter stanza as Ejiofor sank a putback floater as time expired as the game-winner pushed the Red Storm past the Friars, 72-70.
The two charter members of the conference will square off for the 126th time on Saturday afternoon. St. John’s leads the all-time series, 67-58, and has captured 37 of 57 meetings at home, including the last two at Madison Square Garden. The two sides have met every year since 1969-70.
The Friars under the direction of second year Head Coach Kim English have won four of their last six outings. Providence holds an 11-10 overall record and a 5-5 mark in BIG EAST play. In its last contest, the squad outlasted Seton Hall on the road at the Prudential Center on Tuesday night, 69-67.
Providence is led offensively by a pair of guards in Jayden Pierre (12.9 PPG) and Bensley Joseph (12.3 PPG). Freshman forward Ryan Mela has garnered two of the last three BIG EAST Freshman of the Week awards and has started each of the last five games. Fellow rookie Oswin Ernhunmwunse ranks fourth in the league averaging 1.7 blocks per game.
Saturday’s matchup marks the first of two over a four-day stretch at Madison Square Garden, as St. John’s will square off against No. 9/9 Marquette on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. on FS1. To purchase tickets as the two squads battle for the top spot in the BIG EAST, click here.
Red Storm is off to best BIG EAST start since 1984-85 and have won 13 of its last 14 games
· Web Release
· Watch (CBS Sports Network)
· Listen
· Live Stats
· Buy Tickets
· Game Notes (PDF)
QUEENS, N.Y. (Jan. 31, 2025) – Following a perfect record in January for the first time in 40, the No. 15/14 St. John’s men’s basketball team (18-3, 9-1 BIG EAST) will look to ride its momentum into the next month when it hosts Providence (11-10, 5-5 BIG EAST) for “Retro Day” at Madison Square Garden at 12 p.m.
The Johnnies- winners of 13 of their last 14 are currently riding a seven-game win streak and continue to reach heights unseen in Queens in decades. In the second year under Hall of Fame Head Coach Rick Pitino, the Red Storm are currently ranked top-15 in the country, sit tied for first in the conference standings after its best BIG EAST start in 40 years and hold its best record through 21 games since the 1985-86 season.
Saturday’s contest will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network with Andrew Catalon and Steve Lappas on the call with Ashley Ross as the sideline reporter from the World’s Most Famous Arena. Live stats will be available on RedStormSports.com.
St. John’s will host “Retro Day” on Saturday as the team will sport a throwback uniform set that complements the custom court design of the original visual identity of the Red Storm in the mid 1990’s. The jerseys feature the classic red and yellow St. John’s wordmark across the front. To purchase tickets click here, visit RedStormTix.com or call the box office at 1-888-GO-STORM.
An audio broadcast of the game on the LEARFIELD Red Storm Sports Network with John Minko and Brandon Tierney will also be available on a variety of platforms including the Varsity Network App, TuneIn Radio, RedStormSports.com and the St. John's Red Storm mobile app. The radio broadcast can also be heard on SiriusXM radio channel 138 and via the SiriusXM App.
St. John’s locked down Georgetown on Tuesday night, 66-41, which marked the lowest scoring total ever by a Red Storm BIG EAST opponent and the lowest by any team since Nov. 26, 2010, when it limited Drake to 39. The Red Storm raced out to a 23-3 lead and were ahead by as many as 30 in in the opening half. The dominant win at Capital One Arena marked the program’s ninth straight over its longtime league rival
The Hoyas were held to 24.6 percent (14-57) shooting in Washington D.C., the lowest shooting percentage by a St. John’s opponent in 12 years. The Red Storm defense has been relentless, ranking fourth in the country in defensive efficiency allowing just 88.8 points per game per 100 possessions according to KenPomeroy.com. The Johnnies are among the cream of the crop nationally in many defensive statistics including- blocks (3rd at 6.1) rebounds (8th at 41.6), steals (15th at 9.7), turnovers forced (16th at 15.8) and scoring defense (33rd at 65.1). During BIG EAST play, the Johnnies have held opponents to just 66.1 points per game and held the opposition to 37.5 percent shooting, both marks rank atop the league.
Home has been where the wins are for the Red Storm this season, boasting a 13-0 record on homecourt, which ranks the eighth longest win streak in NCAA Division I. The Johnnies are one of the three teams in the country to carry 13 home wins or more without a loss joining Missouri (15) and San Francisco (13). In 13 contests played in New York City the Johnnies have won by double-figures 11 times and outscored opponents by 17.2 points per game.
St. John’s got through the month of January with an unscathed record of 7-0 for the first time since 1984-85. It marked just the seventh time since World War II the program has gone unbeaten in the first month of the year. The Johnnies seven consecutive conference victories mark their most in a single-season since the 2010-11 season.
RJ Luis Jr. continues to lead the Johnnies offensively, ranking fourth in the conference averaging 17.4 points per game. The Miami native has reached double-digits in 24 of his last 26 games, dating back to last season.
Kadary Richmond has continued to take a larger role over the last month, averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals in 35 minutes of action per game over the squad’s seven-game winning streak.
Big man Zuby Ejiofor holds the nation’s longest active streak at 18 games with seven rebounds or more. The forward ranks third in the league logging 8.2 boards per game and ranks second nationally with 4.3 offensive rebounds per contest.
St. John’s and Providence will meet for the second time this season and the Red Storm will seek its first season sweep of its conference foe since the 2020-21 campaign. In the earlier matchup at Amica Mutual Pavilion on Dec. 20, 2024, the Johnnies trailed by as many as 16, including a 13-point halftime deficit. The squad stormed back in the latter stanza as Ejiofor sank a putback floater as time expired as the game-winner pushed the Red Storm past the Friars, 72-70.
The two charter members of the conference will square off for the 126th time on Saturday afternoon. St. John’s leads the all-time series, 67-58, and has captured 37 of 57 meetings at home, including the last two at Madison Square Garden. The two sides have met every year since 1969-70.
The Friars under the direction of second year Head Coach Kim English have won four of their last six outings. Providence holds an 11-10 overall record and a 5-5 mark in BIG EAST play. In its last contest, the squad outlasted Seton Hall on the road at the Prudential Center on Tuesday night, 69-67.
Providence is led offensively by a pair of guards in Jayden Pierre (12.9 PPG) and Bensley Joseph (12.3 PPG). Freshman forward Ryan Mela has garnered two of the last three BIG EAST Freshman of the Week awards and has started each of the last five games. Fellow rookie Oswin Ernhunmwunse ranks fourth in the league averaging 1.7 blocks per game.
Saturday’s matchup marks the first of two over a four-day stretch at Madison Square Garden, as St. John’s will square off against No. 9/9 Marquette on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. on FS1. To purchase tickets as the two squads battle for the top spot in the BIG EAST, click here.
